Box-printing machine.



H. W. MORGAN.

Box PRINIING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. I915.

- 1 ,2'78,369 Patent-edSept. 10,1918.

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H. W. MORGAN.

BOX PRINTING MACHINE.

I APPLICATlON FiLED DEC. 20, 1 915. I 1,278,369. Patented Sept. 10,1918

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H. w. MORGAN.

BOX PRINTING MACHINE- APPLICATION men 0Ec.2o,-1s1s. 1,278,369. PatentedSept. 10,1918. 6 SHEER-SHEETS.

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H. W. MORGAN.

BOX PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IN VEN TOR.

176mg! flfozyazz BY L'A A TTORNE YS.

H. W. MORGAN.

BOX PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED oc.20. 1915.

1,278,369. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

6- SHEETS-SHEET 5- IN VEN TOR.

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H. W. MORGAN.

BOX PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20.. I915. 1,278,369. Patented Sept. 10,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- ozpj mwm u IN VEN TOR.

V; 5 .2 I J ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. MORGAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BOX-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed December 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WV. lVIoRGAN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Printing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificaton, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My invention has for its purpose to provide a machine for printing on the outside of finished boxes, as distinguished from other machines of this general character, which are used for printing upon boards prior to assembling them into a box unit. More particularly, the purpose of the construction is to afford a simplified mechanism which can be readily controlled, and performs its several functions in a comparatively short space of time. An additional object of the invention resides in providing a machine in which the several operations are performed automatically and speedily, with provision for discharging the work at the end of a cycle of operations and returning the parts to their initial positions in preparation for the next operation, which can not, however, be commenced until the driven parts of the mechanism have been brought to a complete stop. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely on the line 4*4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the clutch mechanism which controls the operation of the parts, showing the normal position previous to effecting an operation;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Serial No. 67,720.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the parts immediately after the beginning of an operation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view enlarged on line 7 7 of Fig. 3, and

F ig. 8 is a sectional view 011 line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference numerals through the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention may be carried out in various ways, one of which is illustrated in the present structure, which comprises a frame consisting of a base 1, vertical body portion 2, and overhanging head 3, which serves to support the printing devices in a manner that will appear presently.

The vertical, or body portion 2, includes a guide 4 upon which a carrier 5 is mounted for reciprocatory movement in a horizontal plane, and to this end the carrier is provided with a rack 6 in advance of which is arranged a projection 7 extending somewhat above the uppermost surface of the rack. The carrier comprises a support 8, which is vertically adjustable to accommodate boxes of difi erent thicknesses, and 9 designates a rib or flange on the frame, which is engageq by anti-friction rollers 10 journaled on the carrier, in order to reduce the friction set up by the longitudinal travel of the carrier during the printing operation. Connected to the carrier is a chain 11, passing over a guide pulley 12 and carrying at its end the weight 13, which serves to return the carrier to its initial position after it is released at the completion of a printing operation. In order to prevent excessive shock when the carrier returns, I provide a cushion consisting of a cylinder 14, which receives a piston mounted on the carrier, and 15 is a spring bumper disposed in the path of the carrier to limit its forward movement.

The printing wheel which carries the type from which impression is made on the work, is shown generally at 16., and is mounted on a shaft 17, journaled in the overhanging head 3, and arranged to be rotated by mech anism that will be described presently. The shaft 17 carries a gear member preferably in the form of a segment 18, which engages the rack 6 on the carrier, and disposed in advance of the gear member 18 is the projection 19 which cooperates with the aforementioned projection 7 on the carrier during the initial movement of the printing wheel, and operates to advance the carrier far enough to permit the gear member 18 to engage the rack 6. Thereafter, continued rotation of the printing wheel and the shaft on which it is mounted causes the carrier to move laterally in a horizontal plane until the gear segment 18 has moved far enough to become disengaged from the rack 6. The latter is then released and the carrier is returned to its initial position by the weight 13. It is desirable that this complete operation take place, involving an entire rotation of the printing wheel at each actuation of a treadle or other suitable controlling member, and that the next operation can not take place until the parts already referred to have come to rest, and with this in vieW I employ a form of mechanism which will now be described.

The shaft 17, already mentioned, has loosely mounted thereon a gear 20 engaged by a pinion 21 which is fixed on the mam driving shaft 22, provided with fast and loose pulleys 23, so that the gear 20 is continuously operated. Movable with the gear 20 are a series of shoulders or projections 2% arranged to engage a key or project1on 25 forming part of a clutch member 26, which is pivotally mounted on a support 27 and actuated, when released, by a sprlng 28 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The support 27 is keyed on the shaft 17 so that when the clutch is released the shaft andthe printing wheel are rotated for one complete revolution. The clutch member 26 is retained in normal position by a lever 29 which is pivotally mounted on a bearing 31 and is normally held by a spring 30 to a stop pin 29*. The

detent lever 29 includes an extension 32 provided with a shoulder 33, which is arranged to be engaged by a cotiperating shoulder 3 1 on an actuating piece 35 pivotally mounted upon a link 36. The last mentioned link is pivoted on the bearing 31 and is operated by a connecting rod 37 which connects wlth the controlling member in the form of a treadle 38, pivoted at 39. Thus, when the treadle is depressed, connecting rod 37 is elevated, moving the actuator 35 upwardly and causing the lever 29 to move to the position illustrated in Fig. 6, so that the clutch 26 is thrown into locking position and the shaft 17 is rotated. During such rotation the support 27 engages the cam surface 40 upon actuator 35, moving the latter downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, from the shoulder 33 and the lever 29 is returned to its initial position, in readiness to rengage the clutch member after a single rotation of the shaft 17 and the printing wheel 16 is completed. WVhen the treadle is released, the parts return tothe position shown in Fig. 5, the actuator 35 being retained by the spring 41. In order to prevent a second operation of the lever 29 before the printing wheel is brought to rest, I employ a locking arm 42, pivoted at 43, and arranged to engage the shoulder 4 1 on lever 29 after the beginning of an operation. Toaccomplish this the arm as carries an extension 45 which rests upon a short inclined lug on the carrier 5, when the latter is in initial position, as shown in Fig. 4:. As soon as the carrier has moved slightly, its lug 5 passes from under the extension 15 which drops thereby bringing arm 42 into the path of the lever 29 and retaining it there, to hold the said lever against further movement until the carrier has been returned to its initial position, and. the extension 45 is again elevated by the carrier lug 5.

a6 designates ink distributing rolls with which the printing wheel 16 comes in contact during its rotation, and 17 is a transfer roll engaging the 1 01116 and mounted on a shaft which carries a gear 48, driven by the pinion 21. The transfer roll 17 is reciprocated back and forth by an arm 19 having a stud traveling in a cam slot 50 on the shaft 22. 52 designates an ink reservoir withiiiwhich travels a roll 53 engaging a transfer roll. 54,-, which engages the transfer roll 47 at predetermined intervals. To this end, roll 51 is mounted in a movable frame 55 carr ing an arm 56 which lies in the path of a cam 57, mounted on the shaft 58. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the roll 54 is disengaged from roll 17 by reason of the cam 57 being in contact with arm 56, and on further rotation of the shaft 58, the cam 57 is disengaged from said arm and the frame 55 is free to move to bring roll 5st into engagement with roll 47, which operation is effected by the spring 59. The roll 53 is turned intermittently by a pawl 61, which engages a ratchet 62, and is mounted on a pivoted arm 63. The latter is operated by a rod 64, bell-crank 65, and connecting rod 66, which is associated with an eccentric 67 on the shaft 17.

After the completion of a printing operation, it is desirable that the work be automatically discharged from the carriage, and to this end, I employ an ejector, which comprises an ejecting portion 68, that engages the work on the carrier 5, and is formed on a hollow bar 69 yieldingly connected with the rod 70. The latter carries an extension 71 which travels on a guide rod 72 and is operated by a lever 73, pivoted at 7 1 and carrying a tail piece 75 on which is mounted a roller 76 disposed in the path of a cam portion 77 on the carrier 5. Thus, when the carrier reaches the end of its forward movement, the tail piece 75 is depressed, and the ejector is moved across the surface of the carrier to the position shown in dotted lines, and acts to discharge the box. Thereafter, the lever 71 and the ejector are returned to their normal positions by a spring 78, on the rod 72.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a box printing machine, the combination of a printing Wheel, a revoluble shaft on which said printing wheel is mounted, a driving wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driving Wheel to the shaft to rotate the printing Wheel, a lever normally holding said clutch released and the printing wheel stationary, means for actuating said lever, and means for preventing a second actuation of said lever before the printing wheel has made a complete revolution.

2. In a box printing machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a shaft on which said printing wheelis mounted, a driving wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, aclutch for connecting the driving wheel to the shaft to rotate the printing wheel, an arm normally in position to hold the clutch released and the printing wheel stationary, means for returning said arm to normal position after each actuation, and means for preventing a second actuation of said arm before the printing wheel has made a complete revolution.

3. In a box printing machine, the combination with a rotary printing wheel, and a box or work carrier movable in unison with the wheel surface, of a controlling member, devices governed by the controlling member and acting, upon a single operation of said member, to effect a complete rotation of the printing wheel and to move the carrier to the end of its path and release it for return to its initial position, and devices controlled by the carrier and preventing a second operation of the controlling member during said rotation of the printing wheel.

4. In a box printing machine, the combination with a rotary printing wheel and a box or work carrier movable in unison with the wheel surface, of a controlling member, devices governed by the controlling member and acting, upon a single operation of said member, to effect a complete rotation of the printing wheel and to move the carrier to the end of its path and release it for return to its initial position, and a Work ejector automatically discharging the box or work at the end of a printing operation.

5. In a box printing machine, the combination of a shaft, a printing wheel fixed thereon, a box or'work carrier having forward surface movement in unison with the printing wheel surface, a driving wheel loose on the printing Wheel shaft and carrying a clutch member, means continuously rotating the driving Wheel, a support fixed to the driving wheel shaft, a clutch member pivoted to the support and having a part adapted to engage the driving wheel clutch member, a detent normally holding the support clutch member disengaged from the driving wheel clutch member and then permitting free rotation of the loose driving wheel, and controlling means adapted to trip the detent from the support clutch member which then engages the driving wheel clutch member and gives the printing wheel a complete revolution as the carrier receives its forward stroke during imprinting of the box or work held thereon.

6. In a box printing machine, the combination of a shaft, a printing wheel fixed thereon, a box or work carrier having forward surface movement in unison with the .printing wheel surface, a driving wheel tating the driving wheel, a support fixed to the driving wheel shaft, a clutch member pivoted to the support and having a part adapted to engage the driving wheel clutch member, a detent normally holding the support clutch member disengaged from the driving wheel clutch member and then permitting free rotation of the loose driving wheel, means tending to hold the detent in normal position to engage the support clutch, controlling means adapted to trip the detent from the pivoted clutch member and including a pivoted actuator first disengag ing the detent from the support clutch to cause starting of the printing wheel and later allowing the detent to retract into position to again engage said support clutch and stop the printing wheel at the completion of a single revolution.

7. In a box printing machine, the combination of a shaft, a printing wheel fixed thereon, abox or work carrier having forward surface movement in unison with the printing Wheel surface, a driving wheel loose on the printing wheel shaft and carrying a clutch member, means continuously rotating the driving wheel, a support fixed to the driving wheel shaft and having a cam surface, a clutch member pivoted to the support and having a part adapted to engage the driving wheel clutch member, a pivoted detent having a shoulder, means normally holding the detent engaged with the support clutch member to then permit free rotation of the loose driving wheel, a movable link, an actuator pivoted to the link and having a shoulder and a cam surface, and means yieldingly holding the actuator shoulder in operative relation with the detent shoulder, whereby when the link is moved in one direction the actuator will trip the detent from Wheel clutch member at completion ofasingle revolution of the printing Wheel.

8. In a box printing machine, the combination of a shaft, a printing wheel fixed thereon, a box orwork carrier having for- 9 Ward surface movement in unison with the printing Wheel surface, a driving Wheelloose on the prmtmg Wheel shaft and carrymg a clutch member, means continuously rotat-' ing the driving Wheel, a support fixed tothe 15 driving Wheel shaft, a clutch member pivoted to the support and having .a part adapted to engage the driving Wheel clutch member, a detent normally holding the support clutch member disengaged from the driving,Wheel elutch member and then per-.

mitting'fr'ee rotation of the loose driving wheel, controlling means'adapted toitrip the detent from; the support clutch member which. then engages the driving Wheel clutch member and gives-the printing Wheel a complete revolution as the carrier receives its forward stroke during imprinting of the box or Work he] (1 thereon, an arm normally movable; to lock the detent and prevent its disengagement from the support clutch mem' her, and a part on the Work carrier aetuat ing the arm thereby unlocking the detent as the carrier returns to ts initial posltlon.

HENRY W. MORGAN.

litnesses V Aexns- NESBITT BIssELL, RUssnLL B. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the t Commissioner of laten ts,

Washing'ton D. 0. 

